Posted on 09/26/2009 4:56:57 AM PDT by kellynla
Democrats don't want lawmakers to know what's in health care legislation before Congress votes on it. President Obama and Democratic leaders apparently recognize their chances of ramming through a vote are hurt if members of Congress actually have a chance to read the bills.
On Wednesday, Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee killed a Republican amendment to Chairman Max Baucus' health care proposal that would require a three-day waiting period between when the bill is completed and a committee vote could be held. This short waiting period would allow panel members time to examine the actual legislative language and full cost of the Baucus bill before voting on it. This is important for a tax-heavy bill that - when combined with other existing legislation - could nationalize as much as 10 percent of the U.S. economy.
House Republicans have introduced a measure that would require the final version of all nonemergency legislation to be posted online 72 hours prior to any floor vote. This would be a valuable reform, but few Democrats will have the courage to buck House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and provide the support needed to ensure members actually have the chance to know what they are voting on. Mrs. Pelosi promised a 48-hour waiting period before a vote on the $787 billion stimulus package but didn't deliver. We wouldn't be surprised to see similar shenanigans this time around.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Mr. Newt did it too, when he wielded the Speaker’s gavel, alas.
I will once again (the stimulus bill reminded me of it) go back to a discussion in 9th grade history class when discussing the American system of government.
When asked if the President could “sell” America, we were told that through the wonderful checks and balances system it would be virtually impossible. The majority of Congress would have to vote for that and there is no reasonable explanation to assume that a majority of Congress would vote to sell America. What if they didn’t know what was in it, was a question asked. Well, that would be also virtually impossible that a MAJORITY of Congress wouldn’t at least catch some of it and expose it. Regardless of either party, it is difficult to imagine every member of Congress to be so cavalier with bills and laws signed in.
I wonder what my history teacher thinks 20 years later...
Thread is useless w/o pictures...
“Transparency” refers to the obvious nature of this admistration’s dictatorial methods to “transform” America into a socialist regime.
If they are too afraid to vote against something as reasonable as READING A BILL BEFORE VOTING, do you think they will vote to IMPEACH?
There are a lot of inconvenient truths for Obama - his birth records for one!
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